German air ambulance operator Jetcall, founded in 2011 as a spin-off from Med Call, was granted its own AOC this summer and is looking to build on its longstanding reputation. “This milestone in our development provides us with a self-sufficient operation, with our own pilots, own aircraft and own ops department,” states accountable manager Michael Diefenbach. “We can be extremely flexible and translate this into a tangible benefit for our customers and their patients.

“If we arrive at a destination and the patient needs another day to be stabilised by our medical team, we can leave the aircraft there and transport whenever the risk is minimised. Being in control of all aspects of the transport, we can ensure that nothing competes with or compromises the care of the patient and safe transportation.”

Jetcall has a team of full time pilots, operational and medical personnel plus some freelancers. “We are aware that outstanding people are our biggest competitive advantage and many of our staff have been with us from the beginning, more than 15 years ago,” Diefenbach continues.

Since 1999, Med Call has provided medical repatriation services to the international travel insurance market. After initially chartering aircraft, it acquired its first fully owned jet in 2003. In 2011 it decided to set up Jetcall as an aircraft owner company, and to build its operational capacity. Starting out with a Learjet 55 in 2011, it added a Learjet 31 to the fleet in the same year.

Currently Jetcall/Med Call owns and operates two Learjet 45s and one Learjet 31. The two LR45s are equipped with a twin stretcher while the LR31 has a single stretcher configuration. The second LR45 was added in May.

“The company remains fully focused on setting the highest standards in air ambulance work, with dedicated aircraft that are not used for executive or VIP business aviation,” Diefenbach says. “We moved from the old Learjet (the 55 and 35) to the more modern 31 and 45. 

“In our experience the Learjets, especially the newer ones, are fast, have great performance, good range and are very reliable. We fly about 1,000 hours a year with each of the aircraft, and I am convinced that at this level of utilisation, they are cost-effective and ideally suited for ambulance work.”